Hymn Writers of the Church

Robert IX., King of France (972-1031), is the reputed author of the hymn,to which his name is here attached, but his claim to the authorship of it is very slender. There are at least four men for whom the authorship of the famous Latin hymn, "Veni Sancte Spiritus," is claimed, and no conclusive evidence exists that any one of them wrote it. The other three alleged authors are: Hermannus Contractus, 1013-1054; Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, consecrated in 1207; and Pope Innocent III. This hymn, therefore, will be most properly designated as of unknown authorship. One of the best of the many excellent translations of it is that here given by Dr. Ray Palmer.